"Red Dwarf" (1988) TV series 1988-????

User Rating:

9.1/10   

Creators:

Rob Grant
Doug Naylor
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Release Date:

29 March 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

Plot:

The adventures of the last human being alive and his friends, stranded three million years into deep space on the mining ship Red Dwarf.

Plot Keywords:

Cat | Red Dwarf | Space | Mining Ship | Computer

Awards:

4 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Craig Charles	...	Dave Lister / ... (55 episodes, 1988-2009)
Danny John-Jules	...	The Cat / ... (55 episodes, 1988-2009)
Chris Barrie	...	Arnold Rimmer / ... (51 episodes, 1988-2009)
Robert Llewellyn	...	Kryten / ... (43 episodes, 1989-2009)

(more)

Series Directed by
Ed Bye		(40 episodes, 1988-1999)
Doug Naylor		(7 episodes, 1992-2009)
Andy DeEmmony		(6 episodes, 1993)
Rob Grant		(4 episodes, 1992)
Juliet May		(4 episodes, 1992)

Series Writing credits
Rob Grant		(55 episodes, 1988-2009)
Doug Naylor		(55 episodes, 1988-2009)
Paul Alexander		(5 episodes, 1997-1999)

Series Produced by
Doug Naylor	....	executive producer / producer (43 episodes, 1989-2009)
Ed Bye	....	producer (40 episodes, 1988-1999)
Rob Grant	....	executive producer / producer (24 episodes, 1989-1993)
Paul Jackson	....	executive producer (18 episodes, 1988-1989)
Jo Bennett	....	line producer (8 episodes, 1999)
Ann Zahl	....	associate producer (6 episodes, 1988)
Gilly Archer	....	associate producer (6 episodes, 1989)
Candida Julian-Jones	....	associate producer (6 episodes, 1991)
Hilary Bevan Jones	....	producer (6 episodes, 1992)
Julian Scott	....	associate producer (6 episodes, 1992)
Justin Judd	....	producer (6 episodes, 1993)
Charles Armitage	....	executive producer (3 episodes, 2009)
Andrew Ellard	....	associate producer (3 episodes, 2009)
Jo Howard	....	line producer / producer (3 episodes, 2009)
Helen Norman	....	producer (3 episodes, 2009)

Series Original Music by
Howard Goodall		(55 episodes, 1988-2009)

Series Cinematography by
Peter Morgan		(16 episodes, 1997-1999)

Series Film Editing by
Graham Hutchings		(26 episodes, 1991-1997)
Ed Wooden		(18 episodes, 1988-1989)
Mark Wybourn		(8 episodes, 1999)
Nick Ames		(2 episodes, 2009)

Series Casting by
Jane Davies		(18 episodes, 1991-1993)
Linda Glover		(17 episodes, 1997-2009)

Series Production Design by
Mel Bibby		(40 episodes, 1989-1999)
Paul Montague		(12 episodes, 1988)
Stephen Bradshaw		(12 episodes, 1992-1993)

Series Art Direction by
Ian Reade-Hill		(14 episodes, 1997-1999)
Adrian Caldwell		(2 episodes, 1997)

Series Costume Design by
Howard Burden		(41 episodes, 1989-2009)
Gill Shaw		(28 episodes, 1992-1999)
Jackie Pinks		(12 episodes, 1988)

Series Makeup Department
Andrea Finch	....	makeup designer (35 episodes, 1991-2009)
Sarah Berry	....	makeup designer (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Bethan Jones	....	makeup designer (12 episodes, 1988-1989)
Suzanne Jansen	....	makeup designer (6 episodes, 1988)
Nina Gan	....	makeup designer (5 episodes, 1992)
Lois Burwell	....	makeup designer (4 episodes, 1993)
Christine Allsopp	....	makeup artist / makeup designer (2 episodes, 1999-2009)

Series Production Management
Mike Agnew	....	production manager (12 episodes, 1988-1989)
Jo Bennett	....	production manager (8 episodes, 1997)
George R. Clarke	....	production manager (6 episodes, 1988)
Mario Dubois	....	unit manager (6 episodes, 1988)
Kelvin Jones	....	unit manager (6 episodes, 1988)
Janet Smith	....	unit manager (6 episodes, 1989)
Julian Scott	....	production manager (6 episodes, 1991)
Irene Gibbons	....	unit manager (6 episodes, 1992)
Kerry Waddell	....	production manager (6 episodes, 1993)
Lesley McKirdy	....	production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paul Hastings	....	first assistant director (8 episodes, 1997)
Rebecca Hewitt	....	second assistant director (8 episodes, 1997)
Julie Sykes	....	first assistant director (8 episodes, 1999)
Vikki Dale	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 2009)
James Farmer	....	third assistant director (2 episodes, 2009)
Mark J. Ingram	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes, 1995)

Series Art Department
Mark Allen	....	graphic designer (18 episodes, 1988-1989)
Neil Davies	....	props (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Paul de Csernatony	....	property master / props (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Nigel Pinhay	....	props (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Tim Youngman	....	property buyer / property master (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Stella McIntyre	....	property buyer (12 episodes, 1989-1992)
Mike Fallon	....	property buyer (9 episodes, 1988)
Michala Jermy	....	props (8 episodes, 1999)
Andy Spence	....	graphic designer (8 episodes, 1999)
Pete Blackall	....	props (6 episodes, 1991)
Don Cave	....	property buyer (6 episodes, 1991)
Paul D'Auria	....	graphic designer (6 episodes, 1991)
Mark Hedges	....	stand-by propman / property master (6 episodes, 1992)
Simon Dalton	....	property master (6 episodes, 1993)
Springer Horrill	....	property buyer (6 episodes, 1993)
Laurie Law	....	property buyer (6 episodes, 1997)
Paul Purdy	....	property master (5 episodes, 1992)
Duncan Wheeler	....	property buyer (3 episodes, 1988)
Trevor Young	....	property buyer (2 episodes, 1997)

Series Sound Department
Jem Whippey	....	sound supervisor / post-production sound / ... (20 episodes, 1989-1999)
Keith Mayes	....	sound supervisor (19 episodes, 1989-1993)
Tony Worthington	....	sound supervisor (18 episodes, 1988-1989)
Nigel Davis	....	location sound / sound supervisor (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Geoff Moss	....	sound supervisor / post production sound / ... (10 episodes, 1989-1999)
Mike Reardon	....	boom operator (8 episodes, 1999)
Alan Machin	....	sound (6 episodes, 1988)
Wendy Rath	....	sound (6 episodes, 1988)
Ed Colyer	....	foley mixer (3 episodes, 2009)
Glen Gathard	....	sfx/foley editor (3 episodes, 2009)
Chris Ashworth	....	sound mixer / sound recordist (2 episodes, 2009)
Nigel Holmes	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Alexander Gunn	....	special effects senior technician (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Peter Wragg	....	visual effects designer (44 episodes, 1988-1997)
Chris Veale	....	additional video effects / digital effects designer (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Jim Francis	....	visual effects designer (8 episodes, 1999)
Mark Howard	....	visual effects designer (7 episodes, 1999)
Edward Smith	....	visual effects designer (7 episodes, 1999)
Dave Jervis	....	video effects designer (5 episodes, 1997)
James Davis	....	visual effects designer (4 episodes, 1992-1997)
Alan Marshall	....	visual effects designer (4 episodes, 1992-1997)
Nick Kool	....	visual effects designer (3 episodes, 1992-1997)
Paul McGuinness	....	visual effects designer (3 episodes, 1992-1997)
Mike Tucker	....	visual effects designer (2 episodes, 1993-1997)
Paul Cavanagh	....	video effects designer (2 episodes, 1997)
Bill Pearson	....	visual effects designer (2 episodes, 1999)
Angus Bickerton	....	motion control (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Gareth Milne	....	stunt coordinator (5 episodes, 1989-1992)
Nick Gillard	....	stunt coordinator (2 episodes, 1997-1999)
Tom Delmar	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
John Pomphrey	....	lighting director (36 episodes, 1988-1993)
Rocket	....	camera supervisor / o.b. camera operator (20 episodes, 1988-1993)
John Barker	....	gaffer (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Melvyn Cross	....	camera supervisor (12 episodes, 1988)
Ron Green	....	gaffer (12 episodes, 1992-1993)
Jim Alloway	....	camera operator (8 episodes, 1997)
Nathan Cubitt	....	assistant camera (8 episodes, 1997)
Andy Martin	....	camera operator (8 episodes, 1999)
Dave Fox	....	camera supervisor / o.b. camera operator (6 episodes, 1989)
David Parker	....	o.b. lighting (3 episodes, 1988)
Dave Hodge	....	camera supervisor (3 episodes, 1989)
Gordon White	....	o.b. lighting (2 episodes, 1988)
Dai Thomas	....	lighting assistant (2 episodes, 1993)
Peter Edwards	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Mike Jackson	....	camera supervisor (unknown episodes)
Tony Keene	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Richard Sale	....	assistant costume designer (8 episodes, 1999)
Lesley Staves	....	costume assistant (6 episodes, 1988)

Series Editorial Department
Simon Sanders	....	vision mixer (18 episodes, 1991-1993)
Mike Spencer	....	vision supervisor (18 episodes, 1991-1993)
Jill Dornan	....	vision mixer (12 episodes, 1988)
John Barclay	....	vision mixer (8 episodes, 1999)
Simon Burchell	....	post-production coordinator (8 episodes, 1999)
Peter Bates	....	insert editor (7 episodes, 1992-1993)
John Sillitto	....	on-line editor (6 episodes, 1988)
Len Greenhalgh	....	vision supervisor (3 episodes, 1988)
John Battye	....	vision supervisor (2 episodes, 1988)
Peter Ridsdale Scott	....	commissioning editor (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Christine Moses	....	production assistant / script supervisor (26 episodes, 1991-1997)
Dona DiStefano	....	assistant floor manager / body double: Clare Grogan (18 episodes, 1988-1989)
Mike Amos	....	production accountant (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Helen Norman	....	general manager: Grant Naylor Productions (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Joanna Birkinshaw	....	production accountant (12 episodes, 1991-1992)
Mairead Curtin	....	production team (12 episodes, 1991-1992)
Kerry Waddell	....	stage manager (12 episodes, 1991-1992)
Jeff Jeffery	....	technical manager (12 episodes, 1992-1993)
Dai Thomas	....	console operator (10 episodes, 1992-1993)
Paul Alexander	....	script associate / script editor (10 episodes, 1997-1999)
Julie Farmer	....	production team (8 episodes, 1997)
Tessa Glover	....	assistant to producer/director (8 episodes, 1997)
Ian Hutchinson	....	production team (8 episodes, 1997)
Esther Rodewald	....	production coordinator (8 episodes, 1997)
Alan Godleman	....	engineering manager (8 episodes, 1999)
Lucy Gossage	....	production team (8 episodes, 1999)
Ken Hawkins	....	location manager (8 episodes, 1999)
Jackie Kelly	....	production team (8 episodes, 1999)
Kelly Sparks	....	production team (8 episodes, 1999)
Rachel Stewart	....	production coordinator (8 episodes, 1999)
Lucy Tullett	....	production team (8 episodes, 1999)
Gillian Wood	....	script supervisor (8 episodes, 1999)
Jacqueline Zoppi-Tighe	....	stage manager (8 episodes, 1999)
Cliff Pinnock	....	location manager (7 episodes, 1997)
Helen Campbell	....	production team / assistant floor manager (6 episodes, 1988)
Andrew Cowley	....	technical coordinator (6 episodes, 1988)
Kate Preston	....	production team / production secretary (6 episodes, 1988)
Anna Staniland	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1988)
Alison Thornber	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1988)
Claire Asbury	....	production team (6 episodes, 1989)
Billy Drew	....	production team (6 episodes, 1989)
Neil Gallery	....	production team (6 episodes, 1989)
Christina Hamilton	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1989)
Jane Parker	....	production team (6 episodes, 1989)
Helene Rudlin	....	production team (6 episodes, 1989)
Tony Smith	....	technical coordinator (6 episodes, 1989)
Celia Bargh	....	production team (6 episodes, 1991)
Jez Harris	....	video effects (6 episodes, 1992)
Nichol Hoye	....	production team (6 episodes, 1992)
Bruce Steele	....	video effects (6 episodes, 1992)
Mark Baker	....	production team (6 episodes, 1993)
Bridget Chick	....	production team (6 episodes, 1993)
Suzannah Holt	....	location manager (6 episodes, 1993)
Rina Konstantinou	....	stage manager (6 episodes, 1993)
Karl Mooney	....	video effects (6 episodes, 1993)
Louise O'Malley	....	production accountant (6 episodes, 1993)
Cressida Sherston	....	production coordinator (6 episodes, 1993)
Simon Wallace	....	floor manager (6 episodes, 1993)
Ron Clare	....	technical coordinator (4 episodes, 1988)
Charles Augins	....	choreographer (2 episodes, 1988-1999)
Jon Spicer	....	technical coordinator (2 episodes, 1988)
Mark J. Ingram	....	production team (2 episodes, 1993)
David Lawrence	....	production team (2 episodes, 1993)
Becky Page	....	post-producion supervisor / production coordinator (2 episodes, 2009)
Stacey Skinner	....	assistant production coordinator / production team (2 episodes, 2009)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (BBC North West)
• Grant Naylor Productions
• Paul Jackson Productions

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (1988) (UK) (TV) (original airing)
• CBS/Fox (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Encore Entertainment (1998) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• BBC Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment

Runtime:

30 min (52 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Esperanto

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Certification:

UK:12 | Australia:M (some episodes) | Australia:PG (some episodes) | Netherlands:MG6 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

A cartoon character called Mugs Murphy was specially created for the show. Although he was only seen in "Me2", Lister wears a Mugs Murphy T-shirt with the phrase 'D-D-Don't Shoot!' written on it throughout the first two series.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Little Britain: Biggest House of Cards (#1.5)" (2003)

Soundtrack:

theme

An underrated gem!

Although Red Dwarf is over 17 years old now, it's only in the last year or so that I've seen it in-depth. At first I was a little cautious as it was described as a "cult" favourite, which I think is a polite way of saying geek/nerd fest. Fortunately my concerns were unfounded, as it is one of the funniest sitcoms I've ever seen.

The reason for this, in my opinion, is the terrific writing by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor - who also wrote the excellent Spitting Image. Of course, good writing would be useless without good actors delivering the lines, fortunately ever part in Red Dwarf is perfectly cast. Craig Charles (an unknown stand up comic before he was cast) and Chris Barrie (who previously worked with Grant and Naylor on Spitting Image) are both excellent in the lead roles of Dave Lister and Arnold Rimmer respectively. Robert Llwellyn, who plays Kryten, an android, only joined Red Dwarf in season 3, but quickly established himself as a lot of peoples favourite character. My favourite character, however, has to be the Cat, played by Danny John-Jules, mainly for the outlandish outfits he habitually wears.

Unfortunately the series is no longer on T.V. (in fact they haven't made any new ones since 1998), but you can now buy the series on DVD, and I strongly recommend you do (especially for the fantastic extras that are included).